Just minutes after winning the Sprint Unlimited exhibition race, Harvick ripped reporters for making such a big deal out of Danica Patrick's budding romance with fellow Sprint Cup rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

"I think the biggest thing is how are we going to get Danica and Ricky on the front page tomorrow?" Harvick quipped. "I missed all you guys (at Media Day) because you were all busy being TMZ the other day. Now, you all have to talk to me and I can be a complete (jerk)."

No doubt, Patrick and Stenhouse shared the spotlight at Media Day and surely will garner plenty of attention during Speedweeks.

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To be fair, though, both have been open and eager to talk about their dating life.

But not everyone believes their relationship should dominate headlines.

Harvick, Jamie McMurray, three-time series champion Tony Stewart and others have been fairly outspoken that the Patrick-Stenhouse relationship shouldn't be a story at Daytona.

Harvick even took another shot when asked whether Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon, who was second in Daytona 500 practice Friday, could challenge the faster Patrick for the pole.

"If Danica sits on the pole, Dillon starts second, we might have some rumors," Harvick said. "Just saying. It will be fun. We'll TMZ it all the way."